Why "Beauty Matching" is the new plastic surgery trend rising among couples

Date night could have a whole new meaning thanks to "beauty matching" — a plastic surgery trend that has couples stepping into the surgeon's office for double the procedures. "I have had couples come in prior to their wedding, after their kids went off to college, and at every stage in between," Julius Few, a board-certified plastic surgeon and clinical professor of plastic surgery at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, tells Allure.

Beauty matching has two different interpretations. Most of the time, surgeons say the trend is pretty much as Few describes — couples book cosmetic procedures together prior to a big event or just to share the experience with each other. Surgeons say it's surprisingly common. "Similar-minded people are together and have similar priorities," Haideh Hirmand, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City and clinical assistant professor of surgery at Weill-Cornell Medical College, tells Allure.

In some cases, one partner is inspired by the other's aesthetic change-up and books their own version, says Alan Matarasso, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, and president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "Either they see the result in their spouse or they learn about what they can do and that prompts them. Meanwhile, as one person is learning about it they will discuss it with a spouse," he tells Allure. "It's often a mutual exchange of ideas."

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The second interpretation of beauty matching is more literal — and a little concerning: Getting procedures in tandem so that couples can actually look like each other. Think of it as an extreme version of having your S.O.'s name tattooed on your body.

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What types of procedures can be matched?

Beauty matching can apply to a whole range of cosmetic surgery procedures. "When we talk about couples, it's often aging procedures," says Matarasso. "People are often relatively similar in age so they may have similar complaints."

The date night-meets-plastic surgery procedures often occur in tandem with big life events.

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While you could technically get just about anything done together, Few says most couples come in for minor, non-invasive procedures, such as fillers, Botox, or CoolSculpting. The date night-meets-plastic surgery procedures often occur in tandem with big life events, says Matarasso. For example, a couple may want to get Botox before a wedding or liposuction before a milestone anniversary party. Life events prompting change is "human nature," he says, whether it's an individual or a pair that's making the change.

What to know before you book a beauty-matching appointment.

Beauty matching might raise some eyebrows — it's not a long stretch for the idea of getting plastic surgery with your significant other to trend towards the unhealthy. As such, cosmetic surgeons are watching for red flags that could signal an unhealthy relationship situation.

"I once had a couple who really seemed uncomfortable and almost as if they were trying to do a pressured alteration to save their relationship," Few says. "While the couple approach can be extremely rewarding and valuable, when one person really does not want any form of enhancement or treatment, it is a really bad thing and we typically will avoid treating — even if the spouse or significant other really wants it for their mate."

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Beauty matching isn't about coercion or copycatting.

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When beauty matching isn't about coercion or copycatting and is a mutual decision to share the experience, surgeons say getting procedures with your partner is totally normal — practical, even. Think of it this way: If you and your partner are both interested in liposuction, going through the process together will mean the chance to keep each other company during recovery.

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"The ability to offer emotional support is a major advantage," explains Few. The simple act of having your partner in the room to help give you advice is also a big plus of getting procedures done together, he says. "Now more than ever, we have so many ways to treat a given issue — sometimes having another person in the room who really knows you is vital to make the best decision."

Before you suggest beauty matching as a date night activity…

While it's one thing to want to share an experience with your S.O., there are two major things to weigh before you think about beauty matching. First, you should never, ever, feel pressured into a procedure (or pressure anyone else for that matter). "You don't want to feel pressured into something. You want to do it for your own reasons — not because your spouse wants you to do it. I can't emphasize that enough," says Matarasso.

You want to do it for your own reasons — not because your spouse wants you to do it.

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And finally, taking beauty matching to the extreme end of the spectrum — aka getting procedures with the goal of looking like each other — is taking the trend a little too far. "Extreme approaches in plastic surgery often end very poorly," says Few. "It's not as easy to change back as it is to erase a tattoo of your ex's name from your body."

Before you beauty match, make sure you and your partner are totally on the same page about what each of you hopes to get from the experience. The plastic surgeon's office isn't the place for compromise or meeting your partner in the middle — whatever you want goes.